The Highway

Been through some rough times
See the struggle on my face?
Losing motivation, been losing my way
Will this ever stop?
I’m looking for a change
Thinking to myself
I need to be brave

Seen so many sisters,
Taken from our home
My heart is breaking
My hands are shaking
Cause I feel scared inside
I won’t let it show
And they won’t take my pride

Life was hard, didn’t choose this way
Had no strength, thought I lost my faith
My heart was torn, couldn’t find my place
Found my escape every time I prayed
Sometimes I cried and wished I died
And prayed to creator for a different life
I was born here, I wanna live it right
The pain we have, we need to give it light

I’ve been upset in situations
And the aggression comes and goes
I’m bothered by how my nation
Has been bullied and controlled
Living here has been so hard
And there’s a road that leads to tears
Will the promises come through
Or will the lies continue here?

There’s a highway of Loomsk
Take us to the promised path
There are many who are lost
We’ve been waiting on this chance
So if your life is going downhill
Just slow down
Gyilks ama niisgn (take care of yourself)
We can hold on
And be proud
And bring hope back to where we live

I’ve learned to stand tall and show respect
Appreciate my loved ones, and hold my head
Up high
I’m not afraid of feeling pride
Try to listen close
So you can learn
About a healing tribe

No drama in my heart
And in honour of the missing
I will not be torn apart
From the way that I’ve been thinking
And I’ve found a little courage
And made all my decisions
Respect is what I’m learning
And I’m trying to be the difference

I feel I could go places
We stay connected, we’re hanging out
My school is where I feel the safest
Any fear that I may have, disappears when I am drumming
Friends and family, help me out,
They bring me up when I am struggling

Memories of stolen past
Towards a bright future, no going back
Let’s build a home, where we can hope and laugh
Loodis lp ‘nuun, an elder told me that
Let’s be a voice, who remain in silence
The youth of today, ain’t afraid of rising
For the missing women, who are facing violence
There’s road of Loomsk, let’s change and find it

There’s a highway of Loomsk
Take us to the promised path
There are many who are lost
We’ve been waiting on this chance
So if your life is going downhill
Just slow down
Gyilks ama niisgn (take care of yourself)
We can hold on
And be proud
And bring hope back to where we live

Break through the cycle, there’s only one way singing
*Loomsk*
If you’re looking for some courage and you’re searching for some strength sing
*Loomsk*
We’re mindful of our culture we’re protectors of our words singing
*Loomsk*
We respect all living things and we’re defenders of the earth singing
*Loomsk*

There’s a highway of Loomsk
Take us to the promised path
There are many who are lost
We’ve been waiting on this chance
So if your life is going downhill
Just slow down
Gyilks ama niisgn (take care of yourself)
We can hold on
And be proud
And bring hope back to where we live

Words and music N’we Jinan

Why this song?

In Canada, our first peoples have not been (and in many cases are still not) treated well. There are hundreds, if not thousands of murdered and missing women that get very little attention. Highway 16, that travels from Brandon Manitoba to Prince Rupert British Columbia is a corridor that has seen hundreds of such women go missing. In Northern BC, the stretch from Prince George to Prince Rupert is a notorious section. Some of our young people wrote, produced and performed this song. It is chilling yet beautiful and it needs to be shared more widely to raise awareness. - Greer